Oscillating propeller



No. 6l9,7|4. Patnted Feb. 2l, |899.

C. R. BIRKBY.

OSCILLATING FaRUPELLEB.

(Application led Tune 16, 1898.) (No Model.)

CHE/Hr@ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES ROBERT BIRKBY, OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA.

OSCILLATING PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,714, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filed June 16, 1898.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ROBERT BIRK- BY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leesburg, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Marine Propulsion; and I do declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to marine propulsion; and the object is to provide a propelling apparatus by means of which the occupant of a boat may face the direction in which the boat is moving, and, furthermore, to provide simple and inexpensive means for propelling the boat and by means of which the rudder or steering mechanism, usually at the stern end of the vessel ,may be dispensed with.

With these objects in View the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a boat equipped with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the propeller-shaft.

In the drawings, l denotes the hull of the boat, provided with any suitable bearings 2 on its gunwale, 3 denotes a transverse rod eX- tending through said bearings, and 4 denotes a tubular paddle-shaft,consisting of two parts journaled on said rod and having their outer ends j ournaled in said bearings and provided with eccentric heads 5, to which are secured paddles 6. The inner ends of the tubular shaft-sections are preferably squared, as shown at '7, to receive the socket end of an operating-lever 8, by means of which the shaft-sections are rocked, and consequently the paddles forced through the water to propel the boat forward.

In propelling the boat straight ahead the socket end of the lever is engaged with both .of the squared ends of the sections, so as to Serial No. 6 8 3,5 6 5. (No model.)

rock the paddles in unison. When it is de* 'sired to steer the boat at an angle to its true course, the socket end of the lever is removed from one of the squared ends of one of the shaft-sections and engaged solely with the squared end of the other section, so as to rock but one set of paddles, the other set remaining stationary.

When it is desired to beach the boat or store it away in the boathouse, each set of paddles may be raised above the gunwale of the boat and locked in that position by the pivoted turn-buttons or arms 9, so as not to damage said paddles.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, operation, and advantages of the invention will be readily understood without requiring an extended explanation, and it is evident that the occupant of the boat has perfect control of the same without the use of a rudder and also is enabled to face thedirection in which the boat is going.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- A propelling mechanism for boats comprising a rod secured to the gunwale of the boat, tubular shaft-sections mounted on said rod and provided with squared inner ends, paddles secured to the outer ends of said sections, and a lever having a socketed end to engage the squared ends of the shaft-sections, vsubstantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES ROBERT BIRKBY.

Witnesses:

BENJ. E. CowL, BENJ. A. LEWIS. 

